Wool was a commonly used natural material in early modern Europe. My construction of a French farthingale roll and French wheel farthingale, made as part of my PhD research, required the use of wool as stuffing.
Blog
Rebato Collar, c. 1600-1625 | Part One: Brief History and Materials
The structural fashions of the early modern period in Europe reached a peak at the turn of the seventeenth century. Whilst the ruff, a gathered and starched linen frill that was worn around the neck, was still widely worn, at the beginning of the seventeenth century a new type of standing linen collar became fashionable.
Early Modern Upcycling: Eighteenth-century shoes from the Joseph Box Collection at MAAS
Early modern upcycling. Eighteenth-century shoes made from an Elizabethan or Jacobean waistcoat?
Apologies & an update!
Update and sneak peek of behind the scenes of the photoshoot of my reconstructions
Guest Blog Post: JHI Blog
I recently contributed a post titled, '“He shall not haue so much as a buske-point from thee”: Examining notions of Gender through the lens of Material Culture', to the Journal for the History of Ideas blog.
Dame Filmer Bodies, c. 1630-1650 Reconstruction | Part Five: Finished Product & Afterthoughts
After many months of hand sewing and many pricked fingertips I present my reconstruction of the Filmer Bodies c. 1630-50 from Manchester Galleries.
Dame Filmer Bodies, c. 1630-1650 Reconstruction | Part Four: Constructing and Finishing the Bodies
Constructing the Dame Filmer Bodies & finishing touches.
Romantic Love and Material Culture Workshop
A couple of months ago I was fortunate enough to participate in a one day workshop supported by the ARC History of Emotions called 'Romantic Rituals: Making Love in Europe, c. 1600 to the Present'. By coincidence there were actually four of us who were focusing on the material culture of romantic love from the… Continue reading Romantic Love and Material Culture Workshop
Dame Filmer Bodies, c. 1630-1650 Reconstruction | Part Three: The Stomacher
The term 'stomacher' can refer to various parts of early modern female dress. The first use of the term refers simply to a V-shaped piece of cloth, usually decorated with embroidery, lace, metallic thread or even jewels, that was worn with open front gowns, waistcoats or bodices (concealing the kirtle, petticoat, bodies or stays underneath) from the sixteenth to late eighteenth centuries.
Dame Filmer Bodies, c. 1630-1650 Reconstruction | Part Two: The Busk
The busk is one peculiar element of early modern dress that continues to fascinate me the more that I research it. Understandably, most people have never heard of a ‘busk’ before